Abstract

BackgroundReducing the prevalence of obesity and chronic disease are important priorities. Maori and Pacific Islander communities living in Australia have higher rates of obesity and chronic disease than the wider Australian population. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of the Good Start program, which aims to improve knowledge, attitudes and practices related to healthy eating and physical activity amongst Maori and Pacific Islander communities living in Queensland.MethodsThe intervention was delivered to children aged 6–19 years (N = 375) in schools by multicultural health workers. Class activities focused on one message each term related to healthy eating and physical activity using methods such as cooking sessions and cultural dance. The evaluation approach was a quantitative uncontrolled pre-post design. Data were collected each term pre- and post-intervention using a short questionnaire.ResultsThere were significant increases in knowledge of correct servings of fruit and vegetables, knowledge of sugar and caffeine content of common sugar-sweetened drinks, recognition of the consequences of marketing and upsizing, and the importance of controlling portion size (all P < 0.05). There was also increases in knowledge of physical activity recommendations (P < 0.001), as well as the importance of physical activity for preventing heart disease (P < 0.001) and improving self-esteem (P < 0.001). In terms of attitudes, there were significant improvements in some attitudes to vegetables (P = 0.02), and sugar-sweetened drinks (P < 0.05). In terms of practices and behaviours, although the reported intake of vegetables increased significantly (P < 0.001), the proportion of children eating discretionary foods regularly did not change significantly, suggesting that modifying the program with an increased emphasis on reducing intake of junk food may be beneficial.ConclusionThe study has shown that the Good Start Program was effective in engaging children from Maori and Pacific Island backgrounds and in improving knowledge, and some attitudes and practices, related to healthy eating and physical activity. The evaluation contributes valuable information about components and impacts of this type of intervention, and considerations relevant to this population in order to successfully change behaviours and reduce the burden of chronic disease.

Highlights

  • Reducing the prevalence of obesity and chronic disease are important priorities

  • In this paper we describe the Good Start intervention and the results of the first year of evaluation and some lessons learned as part of the intervention and evaluation planning

  • The Good Start Program is a community-based program aiming to improve knowledge, attitudes and practices related to healthy eating and physical activity amongst Maori and Pacific Islander communities living in Queensland

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Summary

Introduction

Reducing the prevalence of obesity and chronic disease are important priorities. Maori and Pacific Islander communities living in Australia have higher rates of obesity and chronic disease than the wider Australian population. One of the most important risk factors of nutrition-related chronic disease, is a growing global pandemic. In Australia, around one in four children aged 5–17 are overweight or obese, comprised of 20.2% overweight and 7.4% obese [1] Reducing this prevalence is at the core of most preventive health strategies for nutrition-related chronic disease in Australia. Amongst ethnic minority groups there are some, including Maori and Pacific Islander communities, that have a high prevalence of chronic disease including obesity and Type 2 Diabetes and are at a higher risk of hospitalisation for these diseases [2]. In New Zealand for example, 15% of Maori and 30% of Pacific children aged 2–14 years were obese compared to the national average of 11% [4]

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